Amazon’s involvement in the Israeli military-industrial complex has come under scrutiny following revelations that its cloud-computing services have been sold to two prominent Israeli weapons manufacturers, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). These companies have been implicated in the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where their munitions have reportedly contributed to significant civilian casualties and destruction of infrastructure.
Since 2021, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has been a key player in Project Nimbus, a controversial initiative that provides advanced data processing and storage solutions to the Israeli government, including its military and intelligence agencies. Internal documents indicate that AWS has consistently supplied software and cloud services to Rafael and IAI, particularly in 2024 and 2025, coinciding with a period marked by intense military operations in Gaza. Rafael, for instance, has utilized artificial intelligence technologies from AWS, including the large language model Claude, developed by Anthropic, to enhance its military capabilities.
The ethical implications of Amazon’s business dealings are profound, especially given the company’s stated commitment to human rights. Amazon’s Global Human Rights Principles emphasize its dedication to identifying and addressing adverse human rights impacts. However, the company has declined to comment on whether it has conducted a human rights impact assessment regarding its services sold to arms manufacturers engaged in a conflict widely characterized as genocidal by various international observers.
Rafael, founded in 1948, has evolved from a governmental weapons research lab into a major player in the global arms market, producing a wide array of weaponry, including missiles and drones. The company reported record revenues in 2023 and 2024, attributing its financial success to the ongoing military operations in Gaza. CEO Yoav Turgeman noted that Rafael played a crucial role in Israel’s military achievements during what he described as the “longest and most complex multi-front war in Israel’s history.”
IAI, another state-owned entity, is renowned for its development of the Iron Dome missile defense system and various military aircraft, including drones that have been actively deployed in Gaza. The use of these technologies has been highlighted in promotional materials, showcasing their effectiveness in real-time intelligence and targeted operations.
The munitions produced by Rafael and IAI have been at the forefront of Israel’s military strategy in Gaza, with their advanced missile systems being used in operations that have drawn international condemnation. For example, the SPICE guidance kits, which convert conventional bombs into precision-guided munitions, have been implicated in devastating airstrikes that resulted in significant civilian casualties, including a tragic incident in September 2024 that killed at least 19 Palestinians in a designated “safe zone.”
Experts in military targeting have raised concerns about the implications of using such powerful munitions in densely populated urban areas like Gaza. Retired Air Force officer Wes Bryant emphasized that the deployment of 2,000-pound bombs in such contexts should be limited to scenarios where there is a clear military target devoid of civilian presence. The widespread use of these weapons has led to accusations of war crimes and calls for accountability from international bodies.
Moreover, the documents reveal that Rafael has sought to integrate generative artificial intelligence tools from AWS into its operations, raising questions about the ethical use of such technologies in military applications. Anthropic, the developer of Claude, has a usage policy prohibiting the application of its technology for weaponization, yet the circumstances surrounding Rafael’s access to these tools remain ambiguous.
Project Nimbus itself has been characterized as a military program from its inception, with the Israeli Ministry of Finance explicitly stating its intent to provide comprehensive cloud solutions for defense purposes. Despite the potential for misuse of its technology, Amazon has largely refrained from addressing the ethical ramifications of its involvement in this project.
The implications of Amazon’s services extending to Israel’s nuclear program and its operations in the West Bank further complicate the narrative. Experts suggest that the company’s actions could expose it to liability under international law, particularly if it is determined that its services facilitate the commission of international crimes.
As the conflict in Gaza continues, the intersection of technology and warfare raises critical ethical questions about corporate responsibility and complicity in human rights violations. The lack of transparency in how Amazon’s services are utilized by arms manufacturers and military entities underscores the urgent need for accountability in the tech industry, particularly as it relates to its role in global conflicts. The ongoing discourse surrounding these issues highlights the necessity for companies like Amazon to critically assess their partnerships and the broader implications of their business practices in conflict zones.
